The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday voted to reduce the time it may take for a municipality to be approved to receive assistance in debris removal in a disaster.

The action, entered as new business at the commission’s meeting in Bessemer, authorized the acceptance of the memorandum of understanding between the Jefferson County Commission and municipalities in the county. Earlier, the commission passed resolutions that authorized MOUs with Pleasant Grove and the towns of County Line and Mulga for debris removal.

The county’s Roads and Transportation Department sends every municipality a letter for its approval.

“If you want to be under the county if a huge event occurs and you want our assistance with the contractor, the debris contractor,” deputy county attorney Shawna Smith said, “sign this MOU.”

While many cities and towns in the county have approved their MOUs, others have not. Thursday’s action allows for faster approval if a catastrophic event happens when a County Commission meeting is not immediately scheduled.

“It’s kind of like offering people insurance,” Smith said. “Sometimes people don’t realize how important that insurance will be until a disaster occurs.”

Econ Dev Allocations

The commission also made final its decision to provide $200,000 to a pair of organizations to bolster small businesses in the county.

Central Alabama Redevelopment Alliance and Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama each will get $100,000 from the county to aid with innovation, economic development and building a strong workforce to support the growth and development of Jefferson County.

Commissioners decided a while back to allocate as much as 10% of the economic development fund to help organizations that perform work that contributes to the county’s goals for economic development.

CARA partners with other organizations to provide localized seminars or training sessions for businesses. HICA gives loans and technical assistance for immigrant-owned small businesses throughout the county and beyond.

Commissioners discussed the allocations in their committee meeting Tuesday.

Midfield Senior Center Funding Delayed

Another matter of new business – a $10,500 community grant to help Midfield purchase supplies and equipment for its Senior Center – could not be considered because commissioners Joe Knight and Lashunda Scales voted against considering it.

A matter of new business requires unanimous consent to be considered.

Scales, whose district includes Midfield, explained that she’s fully willing to support the measure. She voted against consideration, she said, because she was not approached about the matter, which was presented by Commissioner Sheila Tyson.

“Our office is committed to the taxpayers of the city of Midfield. The Senior Center programming, or the ask, was not properly (brought) before the body,” Scales said. “I stand always willing and ready to finance fully projects that I know that will benefit my constituents. In this instance today, we had an item before us that (my office) had no involvement with and desired to do so (and) sponsor it completely.

“It had not properly gone through our office so that we could participate,” the District 1 commissioner said. “Because of that, the item will be brought back up and it will be brought before the body, at which time we, as in the District 1 commission office, will be in full support, not only by way of a vote but in financial funding support as well.”

Said Commission President Jimmie Stephens: “She (Scales) said it should go through her office, and she’s right, so we held off on the vote.”

Liens for Demolishing Dilapidated Structures

Earlier, the commission conducted a public hearing to place liens on 17 dilapidated and condemned properties that were demolished by county crews. One property owner, Bobbie Davis, was present for the hearing, saying she couldn’t afford to demolish her structure at 611 Belview Street in Bessemer.

Davis was concerned that she had lost her property. She was assured that she had not but that a lien had been placed on the property. She can have the lien removed by paying what is owed.

“It is uncomfortable,” Stephens said. “It is something that we would like to do another way, but the dilapidated houses are an eyesore and are dragging the community down. This is something that’s needed and necessary to improve the quality of life for our citizens.”